Eligibility

Refugee School Impact Eligibility Guide

Refugee School Impact (RSI)

Participants eligible for this program include Washington State residents who:

  1. Have legally resided in the U.S. less than 60 months and are not yet a U.S. citizen; and
  2. are a school-age child (Kindergarten – 12th grade) or the parent of a school-age child; and
  3. have any of the following immigration statuses:
    • Refugee
    • Asylee (meaning asylum was approved and is not pending immigration proceedings)
    • Cuban/Haitian Entrant
    • Amerasian
    • Certified Victims of Trafficking
    • Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Holder (and their eligible family members)Afghan Humanitarian Parolee* (See chart below)
      • Must have a valid/current parole to enroll in new programming.
    • Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee*(See chart below)
      • Must have a valid/current parole to enroll in new programming.*(See note below)
    • Other populations made eligible by ORR
Afghan and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees
Afghan Humanitarian Parolees (AHP)
    Eligible for ORIA-Funded ProgramsAfghans who were paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2023.
Afghans who were paroled into the U.S. after Sept. 30, 2023 ONLY IF they are:

A spouse or child of an Afghan Humanitarian Parolee who was paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2023, OR

A parent or legal guardian of an Afghan Humanitarian Parolee who is an unaccompanied child and was paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2023.

Created January 2024; Updated October 2024

Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHP)
    Eligible for ORIA-Funded ProgramsUkrainians or non-Ukrainians who last habitually resided in Ukraine and who were paroled into the U.S. between Feb. 24, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2024.
Ukrainians who were paroled into the U.S. after Sept. 30, 2024, ONLY IF they are: A spouse or child of an Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee who was paroled into the U.S. between Feb. 24, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2024, OR A parent or legal guardian or primary caregiver of an Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee who is an unaccompanied child and was paroled into the U.S. between Feb. 24, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2024.

Note Regarding Ukrainian Re-Parole

A UHP must have a current/valid Humanitarian Parole to enroll in new programming. If the grantee intends to continue services after the parole expires the grantee is required to:

  1. Ensure the client has filed their re-parole application at least 1 day prior to the expiration. Documentation of this must be kept on file. If the client has not applied for re-parole, they can no longer participate in programming.
  2. The grantee must reverify that the client is approved for re-parole. This verification should take place no later than 3 months after expiration of the client’s initial parole period. Documentation must be kept on file.
    • If the client’s re-parole is still pending after 3 months, reach out to SOWA with the case details so the case can be elevated to ORIA.
    • If re-parole was denied, the client does not have another eligible status (such as asylum) the client must be exited from programming.

Afghan Refugee School Impact (ARSI)

Participants eligible for this program include Washington State residents who:

  1. Have legally resided in the U.S. less than 60 months and are not yet a U.S. citizen; and
  2. are a school-age child (Kindergarten – 12th grade) or the parent of a school-age child; and
  3. are a citizen or national of Afghanistan; and
  4. have any of the following immigration statuses:
    • Refugee with an eligibility date on or after July 31, 2021.
    • Asylee with eligibility date on or after July 31, 2021.Special Immigrant Visa holder (and their eligible family members) with an eligibility date on or after July 31, 2021.
    • Afghan Humanitarian Parolee* (See chart below)
      • Must have a valid/current parole to enroll in new programming.
Afghan Humanitarian Parolees
    Eligible for ORIA-Funded ProgramsAfghans who were paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2023.
Afghans who were paroled into the U.S. after Sept. 30, 2023 ONLY IF they are:

A spouse or child of an Afghan Humanitarian Parolee who was paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2023, OR

A parent or legal guardian of an Afghan Humanitarian Parolee who is an unaccompanied child and was paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2023.

Afghan Refugee School Impact: Support to Schools (ARSI S2S)

Participants eligible for this program include Washington State residents who:

  1. Have legally resided in the U.S. less than 60 months and are not yet a U.S. citizen; and
  2. are a school-age child (preschool/pre-Kindergarten – 12th grade) or the parent of a school-age child; and
  3. are a citizen or national of Afghanistan; and
  4. have any of the following immigration statuses:
    • Refugee with an eligibility date on or after July 31, 2021.
    • Asylee with eligibility date on or after July 31, 2021.Special Immigrant Visa holder (and their eligible family members) with an eligibility date on or after July 31, 2021.
    • Afghan Humanitarian Parolee* (See chart below)
      • Must have a valid/current parole to enroll in new programming.
Afghan Humanitarian Parolees
    Eligible for ORIA-Funded ProgramsAfghans who were paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2023.
Afghans who were paroled into the U.S. after Sept. 30, 2023 ONLY IF they are:

A spouse or child of an Afghan Humanitarian Parolee who was paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2023, OR

A parent or legal guardian of an Afghan Humanitarian Parolee who is an unaccompanied child and was paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2023.

Ukrainian Refugee School Impact (URSI)

Participants eligible for this program include Washington state residents who:

  1. Have legally resided in the U.S. less than 60 months and are not yet a U.S. citizen; and
  2. are a school-age child (Kindergarten – 12th grade) or the parent of a school-age child; and
  3. are a citizen or national of Ukraine, or an individual whose last habitual residence was in Ukraine;1 and
  4. have any of the following immigration statuses:
    • Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee* (See chart below)
      • Must have a valid/current parole to enroll in new programming. * (See note below)
Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees
    Eligible for ORIA-Funded ProgramsUkrainians or non-Ukrainians who last habitually resided in Ukraine and who were paroled into the U.S. between Feb. 24, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2024.
Ukrainians who were paroled into the U.S. after Sept. 30, 2024, ONLY IF they are:

A spouse or child of an Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee who was paroled into the U.S. between Feb. 24, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2024, OR

A parent or legal guardian or primary caregiver of an Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee who is an unaccompanied child and was paroled into the U.S. between Feb. 24, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2024.

Note Regarding Ukrainian Re-Parole

A UHP must have a current/valid Humanitarian Parole to enroll in new programming. If the grantee intends to continue services after the parole expires the grantee is required to:

  1. Ensure the client has filed their re-parole application at least 1 day prior to the expiration. Documentation of this must be kept on file. If the client has not applied for re-parole, they can no longer participate in programming.
  2. The grantee must reverify that the client is approved for re-parole. This verification should take place no later than 3 months after expiration of the client’s initial parole period. Documentation must be kept on file.
    • If the client’s re-parole is still pending after 3 months, reach out to SOWA with the case details so the case can be elevated to ORIA.
    • If re-parole was denied, the client does not have another eligible status (such as asylum) the client must be exited from programming.

Eligibility Dates

Immigration statuseligibility date
RefugeeDate the individual entered the U.S.
AsyleeDate the individual was approved for asylum.
Cuban/Haitian EntrantDate the individual entered the U.S.
AmerasianDate the individual entered the U.S.
Certified Victims of TraffickingDate the individual was approved as a certified victim of trafficking.
Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa HolderDate the individual entered the U.S.
Afghan Humanitarian ParoleeIf the individual was paroled between July 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, their date of eligibility is October 1, 2021. If they entered after October 1, 2021, their eligibility date is their date of humanitarian parole.
Ukrainian Humanitarian ParoleeIf the individual was paroled between February 24, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023, their date of eligibility is May 21, 2022 or the date of their parole, whichever is later. If the individual was paroled October 1, 2023-Sept. 30, 2024, their date of eligibility is April 24, 2024, or the date of their parole, whichever is later.

1 Acceptable documentation indicating last habitual residence in Ukraine includes original Ukrainian government-issued documents, such as a current driver’s license or identification card.

Questions?

Contact our Refugee School Impact Program Project Director, Pang Chang, at pchang@schoolsoutwashington.org